Cyprus government proposes expanded child benefit eligibility

On October 13, 2026, the Cypriot Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Tina Pavlou, presented a new bill to the Parliamentary Committee on Labor aimed at relaxing income criteria for child benefits. The proposed legislative changes are expected to extend financial support to an additional 23,000 families across the country.

The bill introduces a tiered increase in state support, ranging from 5% to 10% depending on a family's income levels. A primary objective of this reform is to eliminate the current structural distortion where families previously faced a total loss of benefits following only minor increases in their income. Furthermore, the ministry plans to integrate these financial payments with broader social services.

While members of the parliamentary committee welcomed the bill, acknowledging that it improves the current system, they noted that significant room for further refinement remains. Lawmakers emphasized that many families continue to face severe financial pressure due to the rising cost of living, urging for continued efforts to mitigate these economic burdens.